are the mountains, seas, rivers, trees, and other things. “Yet signs and warners”—that is, the messengers—“are of no avail to a people who do not believe.” This concerns a people whom Allah knew would not believe.

“Are they awaiting anything but the fate of those who passed away before them? Say, ‘Then wait! I too am waiting with you.’ Then We save Our messengers and those who believe. Thus it is an obligation upon Us to save the believers. Say, ‘O people! If you are in doubt about my religion, then I do not worship those whom you worship besides Allah. Rather, I worship Allah, Who takes your souls at death. And I have been commanded to be among the believers, and to devote yourself wholeheartedly to the religion, inclining to the truth, and not to be among those who associate partners with Allah.’” (102–105)

“Are they awaiting,” meaning the idolaters of Mecca, “anything but the fate of those who passed away before them”—that is, the deniers among the previous nations? Qatada said: This means Allah’s punishments that befell the peoples of Noah, Aad, and Thamud. The Arabs call both punishment and prosperity “days,” as in His saying: “Remind them of Allah’s days” (Ibrahim 5). Everything of good or evil that has passed over you is termed “days.” “Say, ‘Then wait! I too am waiting with you.’”

“Then We save Our messengers”: Yaqub is also reported to have recited it as “We save,” with a single consonant, though this transmission from him is disputed. “And those who believe” with them when the punishment descends. Its meaning is: We saved; the future tense is used with the meaning of the past. “Thus”—that is, just as We saved them—“it is an obligation upon Us to save the believers.” Al-Kisai, Hafs, and Yaqub recited “We save” with a single consonant, while the others recited it with a doubled consonant. Both forms, “saved” and “rescued,” have the same meaning.

His saying, exalted is He: “Say, ‘O people! If you are in doubt about my religion,’” which I call you to.

If it is asked: How could He say, “If you are in doubt,” when they believed what he brought to be false?

It is said: There were people among them who were doubtful, and they are intended by the verse. Or, when they saw the signs, they became unsettled and doubted their own position and the matter of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

His saying, glorified is He: “Then I do not worship those whom you worship besides Allah”—namely, idols—“rather, I worship Allah, Who takes your souls at death,” meaning, He causes you to die and takes your souls; “and I have been commanded to be among the believers.”

His saying: “And to devote yourself wholeheartedly to the religion, inclining to the truth.” Ibn Abbas said: This means your actions. It was also said: Remain steadfast upon the religion, inclining to the truth. “And do not be among those who associate partners with Allah.”